Writer
Paul Laris
Paul Laris is a semi-retired health and human services policy tragic, health care users advocate, medical regulator, community activist, gardener and sailor.
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SA’s populist punishment law to chill climate dissent
A new Bill to silence climate protest has provoked a broad chorus of alarm in South Australia. Despite opposition, it seems likely the Bill will pass and South Australia will join the ranks of governments determined to suppress opposition to the fossil fuel industry. Continue reading »
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Cracks form a year out from South Australian election
One year out from the next South Australian state election and Steven Marshall’s Liberal government is starting to lose its mildly progressive safe covid manager gloss as old and new scandals and blunders start to bite. Continue reading »
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Universities at the crossroads – will town trump gown?
University mergers proposed for SA may be the wrong answer to the wrong question. We have let universities become captured by commercial interests and corporate culture. Now Covid has wrecked their business model. It is time to reclaim them for the public? Continue reading »
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For whom the bell polls in South Australia.
At the half way point in a four year term the SA Marshall Liberal government is surprisingly looking a little lost – and it’s pretty much all their own work. Continue reading »
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Marshall’s SA Government – Just like a duck
Moderate Marshall is calm on the surface – but paddling like mad underneath… Continue reading »
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Marshall’s SA Government – just like a duck
Moderate Marshall is calm on the surface – but paddling like mad underneath… Continue reading »
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Death of the critical friend in South Australia
Organisations advocating on behalf of those who otherwise have little say in the decisions which effect their lives can be seen as critical friends of government. They appear to be a threatened species – and we should be alarmed. Continue reading »
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PAUL LARIS. Making a virtue out of a renewables neccessity
How a transition to renewable power in SA also transited a change of government. Continue reading »
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PAUL LARIS. SA’s Planning Code – Consistency, democracy, or centralised chaos?
 The SA government’s attempts to streamline and centralise urban planning are shaping up as an electoral liability and may also fail to address the problems of urban infill development. Continue reading »
